And as they did not choose to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do things which are shameful;

who, although knowing the ordinance of God, that they who practise such things deserve death, not only do them themselves, but approve of those who do them.

Or dost thou despise the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God is leading thee to repentance?

for it is not the hearers of a law who are righteous before God, but the doers of a law will be accounted righteous;

dost thou then who teachest another, not teach thyself? Thou who proclaimest that others should not steal, dost thou steal?

If then he who is uncircumcised keep the precepts of the Law, shall not he though uncircumcised be regarded as circumcised?

For he is not a Jew, who is one outwardly, nor is that circumcision, which is outward, in the flesh;

but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, spiritual, not literal, whose praise is not of men, but of God.

And why do you not say, as some slanderously charge us with saying, Let us do evil, that good may come? The condemnation of such men is just.

As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one;

they have all turned aside from the right way, they have become worthless together; there is none that doeth good, not even one.

and the way of peace they know not.

Or is God [the God] of Jews alone? Is he not also the God of gentiles? Yea, of gentiles also.

Now to him that performeth works, the reward is not accounted a matter of grace, but of debt;

Blessed is the man whom the Lord shall not charge with sin."

How then was it so accounted? After his circumcision, or while he was uncircumcised? Not after he was circumcised, but while he was uncircumcised.

and that he might be the father of the circumcised, who are not circumcised merely, but who tread in the steps of that faith which our father Abraham had while yet uncircumcised.

For not through the Law was the promise made to Abraham or his offspring that he should be the heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith.

Therefore the inheritance was made to depend on faith, that it might be a matter of grace; that the promise might be sure to all the offspring, not to that only which is under the Law, but to that also which hath the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all

(as it is written, "I have made thee a father of many nations") in the sight of that God whom he believed, who giveth life to the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were.

and not being weak in faith, he regarded not his own body which had become dead, he being about a hundred years old, nor the deadness of Sarahs womb;

And that it was so accounted was not written for his sake alone,

And not only so, but we rejoice in afflictions also, knowing that affliction produceth endurance,

and hope will not disappoint us; because the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which hath been given to us.

and not this only, but also having joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

(for all the time before the Law sin was in the world; but sin is not set to ones account when there is no law.

Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the manner in which Adam transgressed; who is a type of him who was to come.

But the free gift was not as the transgression. For if through the offence of the one the many died, much more hath the grace of God, and the gift which is by the grace of the one man Jesus Christ, abounded to the many.

And the free gift is not like what happened through one man who sinned. For sentence of condemnation followed one offence; but the free gift is a justification after many offences.

Let not then sin reign in your mortal body, bringing you into subjection to its lusts,

For sin shall not hold dominion over you; for ye are not under the Law, but under grace.

What then? Are we to sin, because we are not under the Law, but under grace? God forbid!

Know ye not, that whomever ye choose to obey as a master, his bondmen ye are, whether of sin whose fruit is death, or of obedience whose fruit is righteousness?

For when ye were the slaves of sin, ye were not the bondmen of righteousness.

Know ye not, brethren, (for I am speaking to those who are acquainted with the Law,) that the Law hath dominion over a man only as long as he liveth?

So then, if while her husband is living she connect herself with another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband die, she is no longer bound by that law, so that she will not be an adulteress, though she connect herself with another man.

But now we are delivered from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, that we might serve in the new life of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the letter.

What then shall we say? Is the Law sin? God forbid! But I should not have known sin, except by the Law; for I should not have known sinful desire, unless the Law had said, "Thou shalt not covet."

For I know not what I do. For I do not what I would, but I do what I hate.

But if I do what I would not, I assent to the Law that it is good.

For I know that there dwelleth not in me, that is, in my flesh, any good thing; for to desire is present with me, but not to perform that which is good.

For the good that I would, I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do.

But if I do what I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

For what the Law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God hath done, who on account of sin sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and passed sentence of condemnation on sin in the flesh;

so that what is required by the Law might be accomplished in us, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God; for it doth not submit itself to the Law of God, neither indeed can it.

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. But if any one hath to not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

So then, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

For ye did not receive the spirit of bondage so as to be again in fear; but ye received the spirit of adopted children, whereby we cry, Abba, Father!

For the creation was brought into subjection to vanity not of its own will, but by reason of him who put it into subjection,

and not only so, but even we ourselves also, though having the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption as sons, for the redemption of our body.

For we were saved only in hope. But hope which is seen is not hope; how can a man hope for that which he seeth?

But if we hope for that which we do not see, then do we with patience wait for it.

In like manner the Spirit also helpeth our weakness; for we know not what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedeth with groans which cannot be expressed in words.

He who spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things?

I speak truth in Christ, I do not lie, my conscience bearing witness with me in the Holy Spirit, that

Not as though the word of God hath failed; for not all they that are of Israel are Israel;

That is, not the children by natural descent are children of God, but the children to whom the promise is made are accounted as the offspring.

And not only so, but also when Rebecca had conceived by one man, our father Isaac,

before the children were born, or had done any thing good or evil, to the end that Gods purpose according to election might stand, not depending on works, but on the will of him that calleth,

So then it dependeth not on him that willeth, nor on him that runneth, but on God who showeth mercy.

Hath not the potter a right out of the same lump of clay to make one vessel for an honorable use, and another for a dishonorable?

whom he also called, even us, not only from among the Jews, but also from among the gentiles?

as he also saith in Hosea, "I will call that my people, which was not my people; and her beloved, that was not beloved.

And it shall be, that in the place where it was said to them, Ye are not my people, there shall they be called sons of the living God."

What then shall we say? That the gentiles, who did not strive after righteousness, obtained righteousness, but a righteousness which is of faith;

while Israel, which strove after a law of righteousness, did not attain to a law of righteousness.

Why? Because they did not strive for it by faith, but as being by works. For they stumbled against the stone of stumbling;

as it is written, "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and rock of offence; and he that believeth in him shall not be put to shame."

For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

For being ignorant of the righteousness which is of God, and endeavoring to establish a righteousness of their own, they have not submitted themselves to the righteousness which is of God.

But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh thus: Say not in thy heart, "Who shall ascend into heaven?" that is, to bring Christ down.

For the Scripture saith, "Whoever believeth in him shall not be put to shame."

How then shall they call on him, in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him, of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

But they did not all hearken to the glad tidings. For Isaiah saith, "Lord, who hath believed what he hath heard from us?"

But I say, Did they not hear? Yes truly, "Their voice went forth into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world."

But I say, Hath not Israel had knowledge? First, Moses saith, "I will move you to jealousy by that which is no nation, I will excite you to indignation by a foolish people."

But Isaiah is very bold, and saith, "I was found by those who sought me not, I became known to those who inquired not for me."

God hath not cast off his people, which he foreknew. Do ye not know what the Scripture saith in the passage concerning Elijah? how he pleadeth to God against Israel:

But what saith the answer of God to him? "I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal."

What Israel seeketh after, that Israel did not obtain; but the elect obtained it, and the rest were hardened;

as it is written: "God gave them a spirit of slumber, eyes that were not to see, and ears that were not to hear, unto this day."

let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see; and bow down their back alway."

boast not over the branches; for if thou boast, thou dost not bear the root, but the root thee.

Be it so. It was for their unbelief that they were broken off, and thou standest through thy faith; be not highminded, but fear.

For if God spared the natural branches, take care lest he spare not thee.

And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for God is able to graft them in again.

For I would not have you ignorant, brethren, of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness hath to some extent come upon Israel, until the fullness of the gentiles shall have come in.

and be not conformed to the fashion of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that ye may learn by experience what is the will of God, what is good, and wellpleasing, and perfect.

For through the grace given to me I warn every one among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, according to the measure of faith which God hath imparted to each.

For as in one body we have many members, and the members have not all the same office,

Be not backward in zeal; be fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.

Bless those who persecute you; bless, and curse not.

Be of one mind among yourselves. Set not your minds on high things, but content yourselves with what is humble. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather make room for wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Let every one submit to the authorities that are over him; for there is no authority which is not from God: and the authorities which exist have been ordained by God.

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wouldst thou then not be afraid of the government? Do that which is good, and thou wilt have praise from it;

for the ruler is Gods servant to thee for good. But if thou doest evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain; for he is Gods servant, an avenger to inflict wrath upon him that doeth evil.

It is necessary therefore to submit, not only because of the wrath, but also for your conscience sake.